CAL THOMAS COMMENTARY JANUARY 7, 2026
IT IS THE UNHOLY TRINITY OF FEDERAL SPENDING AND DEBT. WE HEAR IT ALL THE TIME – WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE. AND YET LITTLE IS DONE ABOUT IT.
A TRIAL THAT OPENED THIS WEEK IN MISSISSIPPI WILL EXPOSE MORE OF IT. WHETHER ANYTHING GETS DONE IS PROBLEMATIC, GIVEN THE INACTION OF THE PAST.
HERE ARE THE DETAILS: NEARLY SIX YEARS AFTER THE MISUSE OF $77 MILLION IN FEDERAL AID WAS EXPOSED, FEDERAL PROSECUTORS ARE BRINGING TO COURT CHARGES THAT A NUMBER OF NONPROFITS MISUSED FEDERAL FUNDS TO ENRICH THEMSELVES. AMONG THOSE ALLEGED TO HAVE DONE SO ARE FORMER NFL QUARTERBACK BRETT FAVRE, WHO RECEIVED $1.1 MILLION IN WHAT STATE OFFICIALS CLAIM WERE FUNDS THAT WERE SUPPPOSED TO GO TO NEEDY FAMILIES. FAVRE EVENTUALY REPAID THE MONEY, BUT AN AUDITOR HAS DEMANDED HE ALSO PAY $228 THOUSAND IN INTEREST.
THE MISSISSIPPI CASE IS SIMILAR TO ALLEGATIONS OF FRAUD IN MINNESOTA WHERE SOMALI IMMIGRANTS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE STOLEN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS BY SETTING UP SHAM DAYCARE CENTERS AND SENDING THE MONEY TO FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUPS.
THE PROBLEM IN BOTH STATES – AND OTHER STATES – IS NOT ONLY POOR MANAGEMENT, BUT LACK OF PROPER OVERSIGHT. CONGRESS CAN FIX THIS IF IT HAS THE WILL. I’M CAL THOMAS.
